Revocable Permit & General Lease Land Transfers

DLNR and DOA continue to work collaboratively to transfer lands with mainly agricultural value to DOA. Other parcels that support multiple uses, including forests for water production and carbon sequestration, agricultural grazing, silviculture, endangered species habitats, and access for recreation and traditional gathering, should continue under DLNR Management. The current Act 90 statute requires a review by both the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Board of Agriculture to carefully analyze each RP and GL on a parcel-by-parcel basis, to determine the suitability of the land for agriculture, as well as the important public trust natural and cultural resources that are DLNR's constitutional duty to conserve and protect for all interests and residents.

The 2021 Act 90 Working Group agreed that “certain agricultural lands under DLNR have multiple management objectives, which can include agricultural production, forestry, native forest restoration, watershed protection, habitat conservation, public recreation, fire fuel suppression, another public purposes which clearly fall within DLNR's purview and mission.  These multiple-use lands should remain under DLNR's management."

The Act 90 Working Group recommends DLNR receive flexibility under Chapter 166E, HRS to amend, extend, and issue new leases by negotiation. The perceived need to transfer pasture leases to the DOA can be relieved by providing the DLNR with statutory powers similar to DOA's, facilitating long-term tenure and stability for ranchers.

DLNR is fully compliant with Act 90, SLH 2003. Over the past 15 years DLNR has transferred to DOA, or offered to transfer, all appropriate agricultural lands: approximately 18,000 acres of crop lands. Public pasture lands are quite different, having never been plowed or clearcut. Many of the forested pasture lands eligible for the conservation district were instead designated in the agriculture district, meaning they could be easily clear-cut, or converted wholesale to non-forest uses if managed solely for agriculture.  These pasture lands should be reviewed individually to determine which steward is most appropriate.

The DLNR lands not recommended to be transferred to DOA are important for multiple use purposes, which may include but are not solely limited to agriculture. They are mixed use forest lands DOFAW manages for many uses, but primarily for water, a resource used by all sectors including agriculture where grazing, forestry, hunting, access, and renewable energy projects can co-exist.

Some examples of these areas are shown below. Use arrows on right of picture to see additional photos or maps for each area.

A short explanation of DLNR recommendations shown on the webmap below.